Well pump



E. T. ADAMS Feb. 18, 1941.

WELL PUMP Filed sept. 27, 193s Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES wsu. rum

Edward T. Adams, Los Angeles, Callf.,laslignbr toEdward E. Adama'liol Angeles, (klit.

Application September 27.1838, Serial No. 231,878

10 Claims.

This invention relates to pumps and relates more particularly to pumps for use in deep wells such as oil wells. A general object of this'invention is to provide a simple. practical and eilicient pump that is inexpensive to construct and maintain in operation. 'This application is a continuation inpart of my copendlng application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 168,428, i'lled October 11, 1937, entitled Well pump," patented June 6, 1939, No. 2,160,811.

My copending application, referred to above, describes and claimsa well pump embodying a relatively reciprocable barrel and plunger assembly, having two vertically spaced zones of sealing cooperation, the upper sealing zone being larger in diameter than the lower sealing zone and the plunger and barrel denlng an annular silt trapping space between the zones of sealing cooperation, which space is vented to the interior of' the plunger at points spaced between spaced traveling valves in the plunger. A construction of this nature provides for the grinding of the silt and other solid matter by the elements of the upper, sealing zone and provides for the washing of the solid matter from the annular space to prevent such solid matter from reaching the lower sealing zone. The volume of the annular space in a pump of the character referred to depends upon the difference in diameters of the tubular stock of which the 'barrel and plunger are constructed and the lengths of the barrel and plunger, land under certain operating conditions this vannular space may be of substantial volume. However, in other cases where it is desirable to I employ a shorter pump or a cheaper pump the employment of a barrel and plunger assembly of two diameters to provide the annular silt trapping space may be prohibited. The'present invention provides a well pump embodying abarrel and plunger of`uniform diameters having upper and lower sealing zones and having an annular space for trapping the solid matter that may pass the upper sealing zone to prevent such matter fromv reaching the lower principal sealing zone and embodies means for assuring the flushing of the solid matterirom said space. 'I'he pump of the present invention embodying the barrel and plunger of uniform diameters, is cheaper to manuiact'ure and may be shorter than a pump having a. barrel and plunger of two diameters.

Another object of this invention is to provide a highly eflicient and long wearing well pump.

Another object of this invention is to provide a well pump of the character referred to embodying simple, practical and dependable means for pre- (cl. 10s-m) venting solid matter from reaching the principal or lower zone oi' sealing engagement between the barrel and plunger to prevent the wearing of the active sealing surfaces.

Another object of this invention is to provide a 5 j well pump of the character mentioned embodying means for scraping, scouring and washing the wall of the barrel to remove silt or other solid matter that may adhere thereto to prevent such material from reaching the lower or principal 1o sealing zone of the pump.

`Another object of this invention is to provide a well pump of the character mentioned in which space is assured by a positive fluid ilow or by an induced flow. Another object of this invention is to provide a pump of the character mentioned embodying novel means for producing a positive ow of iluid through the annular silt-trapping space.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pump of the character mentioned having means for creating a turbulent rotary iiow of fluid through the annular silt-trapping space to assure the removal of all solid matter from the space.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferredI forms and applications oi' the invention, throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal detailed sec- 40 tional view of the major portion of one form ofy pump of the invention. Fig. 2 is a central sectional longitudinal diagrammatic view of the pump illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isan enlarged horizontal detailed sectional view taken as indi-A cated by line 3 3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical detailed sectional view of a portion of another vform of pump ofthe invention, and Fig. 5 is a transverse detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 5 5 60 on Fig. 4.

The form of pump of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing may be said to comprise, generally, a barrel l0 having a toot valve Il, a reciprocable plunger l2 operable 55 in the barrel I5 and carrying two working valves plunger cooperating to provide two spaced sealing zones A and B and an annular fluid chamber C between the zones A and B, and means D for producing or inducing a flow of fluid through the space C.

In accordance with the invention the barrel III of the pump may be an elongate tubular member-of uniform internal diameter. In the form of the invention illustrated the barrel I5 is the stationary element of the pump and the plunger I2 reciprocates in the barrel. It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in the standing plunger and working barrel type of pump, if desired. As diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2- of the drawing, the barrel I5 may be suspended from its upper end by a top lock. The top lock for the barrel I5 comprises a mandrel part I5 cooperating with a shoe I9 on the lower end of the well tubing T. The lower end of the mandrel part I5 forms a downwardly facing lifting shoulder 25 at the upper end of the pump barrel I5. The standing valve or foot valve II is preferably provided on the lower end of the barrel I5. I'he foot valve II may be of any selected or preferred type. In the construction illustrated the valve Il is a simple ball valve comprising a tubular cage 2| threadedly connected with the lower end of the barrel I5 and a ball 23 in the cage 2| adapted to engage downwardly against an internal seat 22.

The plunger I2 is the moving or reciprocating element of the well pump and operates longitudinally in the barrel- I5. 'I'he plunger I2 is preferably sectional comprising two or more tubular sections. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawing the plunger I2 includes an upper section 24 and a lower section 25 connected by an adapter section or 'connecting section 25. The sections 24 and 25 are of the same effective external diameter and may, if desired, be of uniform diameter throughout their lengths. The plunger sections 24 and 25 have sealing c0- operation with the internal surface of the barrel I5 at the sealing zones A and B, that is, the section 24 cooperates with the barrel I 5 to provide the sealing zone A and the section 25 cooperates with the rbarrel I5 to provide the sealing zone B. The upper plunger section 24 may be varied considerably in length for the reasons to be hereinrel I with .but slight tolerance.

after set forth, and may be provided with sealing means for cooperating with the internal surface of the barrel I5. In the construction illustrated the upper plunger section 24 is provided with vertically spaced annular liquid carrying grooves 25 in the sealing portion of the upper plunger section 24. If Vdesired or believed necessary the lower plunger section 25 may be provided with any suitable form of sealing means for cooperating with the barrel I5 at the sealing zone B. In the case illustrated, however, the lower plunger section 25 has a plain finished cylindrical external surface operating in the bar- The tolerance between the sealing surfaces of the plunger section 25 and the barrel I5 depends upon several factors such as the length of the plunger section, the character of the fluid handled, etc.

The coupling or connecting section 25 serves,to connect the two sealing sections 24 and 25 of the plunger I2. The connecting section 25 connects the opposing ends of the sections 24 and 25 in such a manner that the sections 24 and 25 are spaced apart to provide or leave the annular silt-trapping space C. In accordance with the broader aspects ofthe invention the connecting section 25 may be connected with the sections 24 and 25 in any suitable manner. In the construction illustrated the upper portion of the connecting section 25 is threaded in the lower end Dortion of the section 24 and is threaded in the upper end portion of the section 25. As above described the section 25 holds the upper and lower sections 24 and 25 spaced apart to leave or provide the chamber C and the length or vertical dimension of the chamber C depends upon the length of the section 26. The connecting section 25 is considerably smaller in diameter than the sections 24 and 25 and the horizontal dimension of the chamber C depends upon the difference in diameters betweenthe section 25 and the sections 24 and 25. It is to be observed that vthe silt-trapping chamber C occurs between the rel I5. In a like manner Ithe upper end of the section 25 forms a scraping surface 55 which scrapes adhering silt, etc. from the surface of the barrel I5 during the up stroke of the plunger I2. 'I'he material scraped from the barrel I5 by the surfaces 25 and 55 is received or deposited in the chamber C. The silt and other solid matter caught or trapped in the chamber C is washed or flushed from the chamber into the main fluid handling passage 0f the pump by the means D, as will be subsequently described.

The traveling valves I5 and I4 are provided to control the flow of fluid through the plunger I2 and in the preferred construction are carried by the plunger to be spaced below and above the chamber C. The lower traveling valve I5 may comprise a tubular cage 55 threadedly connected with the lower end of the plunger section 25 and a replaceable valve seat 55 within the cage. A balll is provided in the valve cage 55 and is adapted to seal downwardly against the seat 25. 'Ihe valve I4 is arranged at the upper end of the plunger I2 and in practice may be secured to the upper end of the section 24. The upper traveling valve I4 may include a cage 55 containing a ball 39 for sealing downwardly against a seat 45. The cage 35 is ported or open to the interior of the barrel I 5 and the tubing T above the seat 45. In practice the valve case 55 may serve to connect the pump rod R with the plunger I2.

The means D operates to produce a particularly effective flushing or washing of the chamber C to remove all silt, sand, etc. therefrom. The means D provides or includes a Venturi tube opening 55 in the connecting section 25 of the plunger I2. The connecting section 25 is shaped and proportioned so that the passage or opening 55 extending therethrough is reduced in diameter, relative to the main fluid passage of the plunger I2, to have a Venturi tube action when the plunger I2 drops through the fluid in the barrel I 5. The wall of the section 25 is thickened so that the opening 55 has an intermediate portion of reduced substantially uniform diameter and an upper portion 52 whose wall tapers upwardly and outwardly. The lower portion of the opening 55 may be of the same diameter as the passage 5I in the plunger section 25 and this lower' portion of the opening 59 joins the restricted -intermediate portion of the opening 59 at a downserves to raise .the column of fluid in the tube T.

wardly facing shoulder 55. The shoulder 55 may be rounded off, as illustrated.

The means D further includes -vertically spaced series of spaced ports 53 and 54 in the section 25 placing the chamber C in communication with the opening 50 and the main passage of the pump. 'I'he ports 59 communicate with the opening 59 at theshoulder 55 and their outer ends communicate with the lower end portion of the chamber C. As illustrated the ports 59 may slope downwardly and inwardly from the lower part of the chamber C to the shoulder 55 to have their upper ends facing upwardly and outwardly and to have their lower ends facing downwardly and inwardly at the shoulder 55. The ports 54 extend through the wall of the section 25 from the tapered portion 52 of the opening 59 to the chamber C. In the preferred construction the ports 54 have their inner ends adjacent the lower end of the tapered portion 52 of the opening 59 and have their outer ends at the upper portion of the chamber C.

In the operation of the pump villustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawing the pump rod R. is reciprocated in the usual manner by a pump power or pump jack to operate the plunger I2 in the barrel I0. During the down stroke of the plunger I2 the standing valve II is closed and the plunger drops down through the fluid in the barrel I0, the traveling valves I3 and I4 .being open during the down travel of the plunger. The scraping surface 29 operates to scrape adhering solid lmatter from the wall of the barrel I9 as the plunger I 2 moves downwardly and this solid matter is deposited or caught in the chamber C. ,'The relative movement of parts during the down travel of the plunger I2 is such that the reduced diameter Venturi passage or opening 59 produces an` through the ports 54. The fluid ilow thus induced through the chamber C fully ushes all solid matter from the chamber as it is gathered by the scraping action of the surface 29.-. 'Ihe fluid flowing upwardly through the chamber C washes against the internal wall of the barrel I9 to wash free any solid matter that may remain adhering to the barrel. The upper section 24 of the plunger I2 acts as a grinder section to grind or reduce any solid matter that may be at the sealing zone A. The ground or reduced solid matter thus formed is trapped or caught in the chamber C and carriedA away through the flow of fluid through the chamber.

valves I3 and I4 are closed so that the plunger 'I'he valve II opens during the up stroke of the plunger to admit fluid to the barrel I0 below the upwardly traveling plunger. 'I'he scraping edge 30 operates to scrape or clear the solid matter from the wall of the barrel I9 and this silt or solid matter is readily flushed from the chamber C by the fluid flowing through the chamber during the next down stroke of the plunger. Owing to the presence of the valve I4 there isa tendency for fluid to slip through or past the sealing zone A and this fluid slippage maywash or carry solid matter through the sealing zone A to the chamber C. The chamber C operates to trap such solid matter and prevents the solid matter from reaching the lower sealing zone B. It will be seen that the chamber C, the scraping surfaces 29 and Il and the means D circulating fluid through the chamber C prevent solid matter from reaching the sealing zone B and protect the section 25 of the plunger I2 against wear. The chamber C is ported to the main passage of the pump so that the silt and solid matter that may tend to accumulate therein by reason of the action of the 'surfaces 29 and 30 is flushed away during each pumping cycle and does not remain in the chamber. The low'er sealing zone B being protected against the action of the abrasive solid matter remains effective for a long period and has less may be increased in length, that is, the plunger section 25 may be increased in length to provide a longer seal. In this case the upper section 24 of the plunger I2 may serve primarily as a grinder and scraper section and may be shortened and the lower section 25 may be lengthened. Where the upper plunger section 24 is materially shortened and the lower plunger section 25 is lengthened to adapt the pump for the handling of fluid containing a large percentage ofssolid matter, the upper traveling valve I4 may, if desired, be dispensed with for in this case the sealing action of the upper section is so reduced that the extra expense of the upper valve I4 may not be justified. In any application of the pump the upper section 24 of the plunger I2 operates as a grinder section to reduce the lparticles of solid matter adhering to the barrel walls and entrained with the slippage fluid and the surfaces 29 and 39 operate as scrapers or wipers to remove adhering solid matter from the walls of the barrel III. The chamber C always operates .as a trap for the solid matter that may slip past the grinder section 24 and that is scraped off by the surfaces 29 and 30. As above described, the ports 59 and 54 and the Venturi `tube opening 50--52 assure the removal or flush- -ing away of all of the solid matter from the chamber C and the transference of such solid matter to the main fluid handling passage of the pump.

Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing illustrate a form of the invention in which a positive flow of fluid -is provided to flush or carry the solid matter from the silt trapping chamber. In the construction illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 oi the drawing the barrel I0 with its foot valve Il and the plunger I2 with its traveling valves I3 and I4 may be the same as described above. The coupling section or connecting section 2lia of this arrangement connects the two p1unger sections 24 and 25 in the same manner as the above described connecting section 26. The connecting section 26 is smaller in external diameter than the plunger sections 24 and 25 and holds the opposing ends of the sections 24 and 25 in spaced relation to provide the siltY trapping chamber C'. It is preferred to slope or pitch the end or scraping surface 29'1 of the plunger section 24 to have effective scraping engagement with the internal surface of the barrel Il. The surface 28l is preferably sloped downwardly and outwardly. The scraping surface e of the plunger section 2i is preferably sloped downwardly and'inwardly to have an eincient scraping action. The connecting section 2l of the plunger I2 is in the form of a block or plug having a transverse internal partition Il separating the passage II of the plunger section 28 from the passage CI of the upper plunger section 24.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing embodies a novel means D' for producing a `positive flow of fluid through the silt traDDiIlB chamber C'. The means D' includes a set or series of ports l2 in the section 22* venting the chamber C to the passage II vinthe upper section 2l of the plunger I2. The ports 62 extend laterally through the section 22 and\,

are circumferentially spaced one from the other. In the preferred construction the ports 02 have their outer ends in communication with the upperpart of the chamber C' and have their inner ends in communication with a socket 63 which in turn joins the bottom of the passage Il. The

'ports l2 are preferably pitchedldownwardly and outwardly as illustrated.

The means D' further includes a set or series of ports I4 in the connecting section 2l* connecting the chamber C' with the passage 5I in the lower plunger section 2B. The ports I4 are circumferentially spaced and preferably slope downwardly and inwardly from the lower part of the chamber C' to a socket il in the lower end of the section 2C. The socket 25 has full communication with the passage II so that the ports N are in communication with said passage. In accordance with the invention the ports M are such that the uid is given a rotary or spiralled motion as it enters the chamber C'. The ports u in addition to being pitched downwardly and inwardly are pitched tangentialiy with respect to a circle concentric with the central vertical axis of the pump. The several ports u are preferably tangentially pitched in the same direction and at the same angle. It will be'seen that iluid flowing upwardly and outwardly through the tangentially pitched ports N is given a swirling ibneotion to spiral upwardly through the cham- In the operation of the construction illustrated in 4 and 5 of the drawing the barrel I0, valve I I, plunger I2 and valves I I and I4 operate .in the same manner as in the previously described embodiment of the invention. During the down-stroke of theplunger I2 in the barrell I0 the relative movement of the parts produces an upward ilow of fluid through the plunger I2. Ilhe fluid from the passage II flows through the ports N into the chamber C. The fluid passed through the ports Il is directed upwardly and outwardly and is given a rotary or whirling motion. This rotary motion of the iiuid in the chamber C' is created on the down stroke of the plunger I2 and persists through the up stroke to form a turbulent iiow holding the solid matter in suspension in the' liquid. 'I'his whirling iiuid directed upwardly and outwardly has an eii'ective scouring and washing engagement with the wall of the barrel Il to thoroughly wash all adhering solid matter from the barrel. The fluid rotating or spiralling in the chamber C entrains or picks up the solid matter that may be in the chamber and carries it out through the ports 62 to the passage 0I. The surface 2ln operates to scrape solid matter from the wall of the barrel Il during the down stroke of the plunger I2 and the solid matter scraped or wiped oi! by the surface 22* is carried away by the fluid flowing through the chamber C. It is to be observed that there is a positive flow of fluid through the chamber C to completely carry oil.' all the solid matter from the chamber. During the up stroke of the plunger I2 the scraping surface 3l* operates to remove adhering solid matter from the'wall of the barrel Il and this solid matter may be deposited in the chamber C. 'I'he grinder section 24 of the plunger I2 operates to reduce or grind the solid matter at the sealing zone A and this reduced solid matter and any other solid matter that may be carried with the slippage fluid is caught or trapped in the chamber C'. The positive flow of fluid through the chamber C during the next down stroke of the plunger I2 completely flushes the chamber of al1 accumulated sono matter.

It is to be understood that in both of the above described forms of the invention the barrel I II and the plunger I2, or at least the parts of the plunger I2 adjacent the groove C or C' are formed of metal to provide the metal to metalengagement and thev metal scraping edges herein described.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself Vany variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A well pump comprising. a barrel valved at its lower end, a tubular plunger reciprocable in the barrel and having an external groove between its ends forming a iluid chamber, the barrel and plunger having sealing cooperation at zones above and below said chamber, a restriction on the interior of the plunger providing the plunger with a Venturi passage, the plunger having ports communicating with the chamber and with the Venturi passage at vertically spaced points, and a valve on the plunger controlling flow through the plunger.

2. A well pump comprising, a barrel valved at its lower end,` a tubular plunger reciprocable in the barrel and comprising two tube sections, and a member of reduced external diameter connecting the sections, therel being an annular chamber between .the adjacent ends of the sections, the sections having sealing engagement with the barrel at zones above and below the chamber, a Venturi restriction on the interior of the member, the member having vertically spaced ports communicating with the chamber and said Venturi restriction, and valves on the plunger above and below said ports.

3. A well pump comprising a barrel having a foot valve, a tubular plunger reciprocable in the barrel above the foot valve and having an external annular groove between its ends and longitudinally spaced ports connecting the groove with the interior of the plunger, the plunger including a grinder portion above the groove for grinding solid matter that may slip past the plunger into the groove and a sealing portion below the groove operating in sealing relation to the barrel, a valve on the plunger controlling flow therethrough, and means for producing a ilow of iluid through the ports and groove during the down stroke of the barrel above the foot valve and having an external groove between its ends. the plunger including a grinder portion above the groove for grinding solid matter that may slip past the plunger into the groove, a portion below the groove in sealing relation to the barrel, and a partition across the interior of the tubular plunger, the plunger having ports communicating with the groove and communicating with the interior of the plunger above and below said partition to circulate fluid through the groove, and a valve in the plunger below the groove to control the flow through the plunger.

5. A well pump comprising a barrel having a foot valve, a tubular plunger reciprocable in the barrel above the foot valve and ha an external annular groove between its ends, the plunger including a scraping element above the groove for scraping material from the barrel wall into the groove, a sealing portion below the groove in sealing relation to the barrel, and a partition across the interior oi the tubular plunger, the plunger having a port communieating with the groove and communicating with the interior of the plunger above the partition and a port communicating with the groove and communicating with the interior of the plunger below said partition, the last named port being directed to give the iluid entering the groove a whirling motion.

6. A well pump comprising a barrel having a foot valve, a tubular plunger reciprccable ln the barrel above the foot valve and having an ex ternal groove between its ends, a scraper part on the plunger for scraping material from the wall of the barrel into the groove, a partition across the interior of the plunger, the plunger having a series of ports extending from the upper part of the groove to the interior of the plunger above the partition and a series of ports extending from the lower part of the groove to the interior of the plunger below the partition, said ports circulating fluid through the groove to remove said material therefrom, and valves on the plunger above and below said partition controlling nuid now through the plunger.

7. A well pump comprising a barrel valved at its lower end, a tubular plunger reciprocable in the barrel and having an external groove forming a fluid chamber and longitudinally spaced ports maintaining its interior in communication with the chamber, the barrel and plunger being of uniform effective diameter and having sealing cooperation below the chamber, a grinder portion on the plunger above the chamber cooperable with the barrel to grind up solid matter particles that may enter between the barrel and plunger surfaces, means producing a flow of fluid from the interior oi' the plunger through the ports and chamber and back into the Aplunger during operation oi the plunger, and a traveling valve on the plunger.

8. A well pump comprising a barrel valved at its lower end, a tubular plunger reciprocable in the rrel and comprising upper and lower tube sections, and a member of reduced external dameter connecting the sections, the differential in diameter of the sections and member providing an external chamber between the opposing ends of the sections, the upper section operating in the barrel as a grinder to reduce solid particles, the lower section having sealing engagement in the barrel below the chamber, the member having ports connecting the upper and lower portions of the chamber with the interior of the plunger, means in the member producing a positive ow of fluid from the interior of the plunger through the ports and chber and back into the plunger during the down stroke oi the plunger, and valves in the plunger above and below the ports controlling new through the plunger.

9. A well pp comprising a tubular barrel having a ioot valve, a tubular plunger reciprocable in the barrel above the foot valve, the tubular barrel and. plunger dening a passage for a column or the nuld being pumped, the plunger having an external groove, a partition in the plunger, a metal scraping edge on the plunger for scraping material from the wall of the barrel into the groove, port means in the plunger placing the groove in communication with the said passage above and below the partition whereby the null-,i ci said column flows through the port means and groove to ush out the same during the down stroke of the plunger, and a traveling valve on the plunger controlling the flow therethrough.

l0. A weil pump comprising a barrel having a foot valve, a tubular plunger reciprocable in the barrel above the foot valve and having a circumferential uld channel between its ends, scraper rts on the plunger below and above the channel having metal to metal engagement with the barrel for scraping material from the wall oi the barrel into the channel, a. partition across the interior oi the plunger, the plunger having a port extending from the upper part of the channel to the interior of the plunger above the partition and a port extending from the lower part of the channel to the interior of the plunger below the partition, said ports circulating uid through the channel to remove said material therefrom, the last named ports being directed to give the uid a swirling motion in the channel, and a valve on the plunger controlling flow therethrough.

EDWARD T. ADAMS. 

